SIDE BY SIDE
How do two states really compare?
See the differences across 31 measures. Change either state, explore a topic, and create a free link to your exact comparison.
vs.
31 MEASURES. TWO PERSPECTIVES.
California & Washington
| MEASURE | CALIFORNIA | WASHINGTON | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 39,431,263#1 of 50 states | 7,958,180#13 of 50 states | +31,473,083 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 14,392,140#1 of 50 states | 3,202,241#13 of 50 states | +11,189,899 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 1,079,379#3 of 50 states | 232,900#22 of 50 states | +846,479 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $2,104#50 of 50 states | $1,824#47 of 50 states | +$280 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 19,240,700#1 of 50 states | 3,964,612#13 of 50 states | +15,276,088 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 1,213,681#1 of 50 states | 203,073#12 of 50 states | +1,010,608 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 148,959#1 of 50 states | 61,777#6 of 50 states | +87,182 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 11,486,404#1 of 50 states | 2,276,029#14 of 50 states | +9,210,375 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 623,078#2 of 50 states | 165,366#7 of 50 states | +457,712 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 2,672,106#1 of 50 states | 645,514#11 of 50 states | +2,026,592 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 29.7 min#46 of 50 states | 27.2 min#39 of 50 states | +2.5 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $100,149#5 of 50 states | $99,389#7 of 50 states | +$760 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $49,934#10 of 50 states | $55,177#3 of 50 states | −$5,243 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $140,112#3 of 50 states | $136,793#5 of 50 states | +$3,319 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 1,860,876#1 of 50 states | 353,215#12 of 50 states | +1,507,661 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 3,979,060#1 of 50 states | 915,780#15 of 50 states | +3,063,280 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 3,039,722#1 of 50 states | 768,859#14 of 50 states | +2,270,863 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 790,850#1 of 50 states | 142,741#16 of 50 states | +648,109 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 512,054#1 of 50 states | 105,396#7 of 50 states | +406,658 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 36,664,436#1 of 50 states | 7,331,599#13 of 50 states | +29,332,837 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 2,314,464#3 of 50 states | 511,691#15 of 50 states | +1,802,773 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 24,647,655#1 of 50 states | 5,555,928#13 of 50 states | +19,091,727 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 15,996,023#1 of 50 states | 2,794,750#14 of 50 states | +13,201,273 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 14,876,469#1 of 50 states | 3,094,527#14 of 50 states | +11,781,942 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 2,904,921#1 of 50 states | 647,606#13 of 50 states | +2,257,315 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 1,421,571#1 of 50 states | 216,773#13 of 50 states | +1,204,798 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 12,842,211#1 of 50 states | 4,892,095#14 of 50 states | +7,950,116 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 2,008,322#6 of 50 states | 312,969#28 of 50 states | +1,695,353 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 105,814#4 of 50 states | 61,574#8 of 50 states | +44,240 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 6,243,676#1 of 50 states | 845,000#5 of 50 states | +5,398,676 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 16,069,214#1 of 50 states | 1,194,522#12 of 50 states | +14,874,692 |
Ranks follow each measure’s default order. Counts reflect state size as well as the underlying condition; higher is not automatically better. State comparisons describe separate populations, not the same household across measures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Supplied extract; descriptive ranks across 50 states.
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